Safety Smart Workplaces Stand Ready to Respond

Every year in June we observe National Safety Month. It’s an opportunity for the National Safety Council (NSC) and thousands of other organizations to raise awareness about the importance of reducing injury and death at work, on the roads and in our homes and communities. Each week has a theme, and this week’s was “Stand Ready to Respond,” highlighting the importance of first aid and CPR training.

Here at Intelex we’re especially interested in promoting workplace safety, which is why we’ve pulled together some critical information for companies who want to be safety smart, to help them “stand ready to respond” and ensure the safety of their employees on the job.

Know the Regulations

Your parents were right when they told you that the rules exist for a reason. Minimum requirements for occupational first aid are typically set out by government regulatory bodies, and the onus is on companies to ensure that they understand these requirements and can confirm that they are operating in compliance.

Companies with a strong safety culture empower their workers to be able to look out for one another and provide assistance to a fellow coworker in an emergency. Research from organizations such as St John Ambulance and the Red Cross suggests that many people die unnecessarily due to a lack of first aid.

Encourage your employees to learn this vital skill and where possible support them by facilitating first aid training courses!

Prioritize High-Risk First Aid

A company’s ability to quickly and effectively provide assistance to an employee in critical condition can mean the difference between life and death. Unfortunately, paramedics can often take 8-12 minutes to arrive on the scene.

Train your employees to respond in high-risk scenarios, such as cardiac arrest, stroke, choking, or severe bleeding. Ensure that your workforce knows who is certified in CPR and First Aid and how to get in touch with them quickly in an emergency.

“Standing Ready to Respond” is a great concept to be able to integrate into your company’s safety culture. As many companies face new challenges associated with an aging workforce, it’s also important to be aware of the fact that different age groups are at risk for different types of workplace health and safety incidents and that recognizing the signs of a first aid emergency such as cardiac arrest or stroke may be even more critical in the coming years. Visit the National Safety Council’s website for more information on First Aid Training and other workplace safety resources.

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